One Piece: The Arm of Fate

These two Devil Fruits had different colors and shapes.

One was pure white, shaped like a jade plate.

The other was light yellow, resembling a cactus.

Shano looked at them for a while but didn't recognize them.

"Hey, what kind of fruit is this? Do you know it?" He turned to Gabra.

"Ahem…"

Gabra, struggling to prop himself up, glared at him. "You stole our stuff and still dare to ask us? How shameless! Why would I tell you…"

"Of course I know, tsk tsk tsk!"

The owl, twitching on the ground, reflexively raised his hand:

"One is the white tiger form of the Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit, and the other is the Sand-Sand Fruit of the Logia-type — the one used by the former Warlord Crocodile who was killed by that terrifying pirate, Shano. Both are very precious types, tsk tsk tsk!"

"Otonashi Owl!!!"

Gabra gritted his teeth and roared, clutching his chest, almost passing out.

"Really?"

Shano raised his eyebrows.

Another Logia?

He really had been running into Logia users lately...

Still, as the owl said, these two fruits were indeed highly valuable.

The Sand-Sand Fruit needed no explanation. The White Tiger Fruit was likely a top-tier Zoan, just below the Mythical class.

No wonder they said earlier that capturing these two fruits could offset the failure of this escort mission.

Originally, he was just passing through this island for a vacation, but now he'd made quite the haul!

Shano nodded in satisfaction, calmly repacked the Devil Fruits and tied the bag shut again. Seeing this, Gabra beside him looked full of reluctance.

"Hey!"

Gabra shouted in anger but didn't dare to act out. "You're definitely not some nobody. It's one thing to rob people, but you don't even dare to show your real face. Isn't that unbecoming for someone strong?!"

In a single encounter, this man had easily defeated all of them — the elite of CP9. His strength was simply unfathomable!

"It does seem that way…"

Shano rubbed his chin and nodded. "Bucky, just call me Buggy. The one wearing the wolf mask earlier is my pet, the lion Liki."

"Huh?" The three of them were stunned.

Buggy, Buggy...

Wait, that name sounded familiar—

Don!

Before they could remember, all three rolled their eyes and fainted.

"Since you've been so cooperative, I won't kill you."

Shano casually lifted all three and tossed them into the nearby garbage dump.

His strength was precisely controlled, just enough for them to stay unconscious until tomorrow night. By then, he'd be long gone, maybe even at Water City already.

He had no intention of killing people who didn't actively cause trouble, and he wasn't interested in recruiting them either — especially that Otonashi Owl...

Better for him to stay in the World Government and keep running his mouth there.

Of course, he wouldn't miss the opportunity to extract some "wool."

[You sacrificed Otonashi Owl's big-mouth zipper and received 300 points]

[You sacrificed all of Liki the lion's hair and received 300 points]

[You sacrificed Gabra's mustache and received 400 points]

A total of 1,000 points, bringing Shano's remaining total to 32,500.

He hadn't plucked Jack yet — he was waiting. He figured Jack's most valuable parts would be the two massive mammoth tusks when he transformed.

Once Jack learned Life Return, he could use checking his progress as an excuse to break off one and try sacrificing it.

Before leaving the alley, Shano looked back at Gabra and the others one last time.

These agents weren't bad in terms of physical technique.

But in his eyes, both their speed and strength were all over the place, and they hadn't even mastered Haki.

That gave him a rough benchmark for the strength of the rest of CP9.

If this was all they had…

Then there was no need to worry about the group that had arrived in Water City ahead of him.

The next morning.

The sea train left the dock, rushing toward Water City.

But this time, the passengers were all girls.

Nami leaned against Robin's shoulder, listless and dozing off.

She had gone all out at the carnival last night. Even though she caught a few hours of sleep afterward, she still looked completely drained.

Kuina sat opposite her, holding the two Devil Fruits, silently deep in thought.

"You're still not planning to eat one?"

Nojiko rested her chin in her hand. "Last night when my brother gave you these, you seemed pretty tempted by the White Tiger Fruit. Why'd you change your mind this morning?"

Currently on the End, aside from the captain and two pets, almost everyone else was a Devil Fruit user—

Only Kuina and Zeff remained.

Uncle Zeff was still as stubborn as ever.

He always said that a chef on the sea shouldn't be a landlubber and would never eat a Devil Fruit.

That made sense.

But Nojiko suspected the real reason was that Zeff knew he was getting old and didn't have much potential left for growth.

So, he chose to step back from combat and focus on his kitchen — just like that Long Bread guy in Big Mom's crew that Shano once mentioned.

As for Kuina…

Under Nojiko's gaze, Kuina finally shook her head and set the two fruits down.

"I don't want to eat them," she said softly, calmly, and firmly.

"When I first saw the White Tiger Fruit last night, I hesitated a little. After all, it's a very rare Zoan."

"If I ate it, my strength, speed, and recovery would all improve dramatically. My combat ability would soar."

Kuina paused and gently stroked the hilt of the sword at her waist with her fingertips.

"But that's not my 'path.'"

Her path had been set the day she picked up a bamboo sword in Shimotsuki Village.

—To become the world's greatest swordsman through her own effort, without relying on external power.

It was certainly a harder path.

But that's why, once she reached the summit, that glory would truly be hers.

Just like the world's current strongest swordsman — Dracule Mihawk.

"Eh~ That's so you," Nojiko smiled, putting an arm around her.

"But in that case, you'll need to work even harder. There are more and more monsters on this ship. Watch out or your vice-captain position might be in danger."

Not to mention the newcomers — even Jack, who just joined, was a monster. His physical power was monstrous, and his Zoan fruit ability was abnormal. Despite seeming dumb, he had a scary talent for martial arts.

In just two days, he was already showing signs of grasping Armament Haki. At this rate, he'd master it in a month or two.

Kuina knew all this — and didn't care.

Work harder?

She glanced down at Wado Ichimonji and smiled.

"No problem. I want that."

Nojiko silently rolled her eyes at her Wano-speak and stored away the two fruits.

Tsk… when would they find someone worthy of using them?

Woo—woo!!

The sea train roared full speed down the rails.

Suddenly, the car jolted violently. A muffled bang sounded — it was as if they hit something.

The car shook briefly and then resumed normal speed.

Robin thought she was imagining things — until she glanced out the window.

A giant light-brown frog was tumbling away, crashing into the sea with a plop, splashing water several meters high.

It floated belly-up, limbs spread, eyes spiraled, tongue lolling out.

Was it… trying to stop the train?

After the surprise faded, Robin's eyes were filled with pity and sympathy.

With such a size and strength gap, how could it succeed?

Just like her — once alone, facing the massive machine that was the World Government…

But now…

Robin looked down at the girl sleeping against her chest and smiled, gently patting her cheek:

"We're almost there. Wake up, Nami."

"Mmm… Are we there yet?"

Pop!

The snot bubble on Nami's nose burst. She rubbed her eyes, sat up groggily, and looked outside.

Sure enough, in the distant sea horizon, a magnificent, bustling city came into view.

Water 7 — the City of Water.

Like a dream growing from the ocean, this miracle of a city stood proud.

Countless blue canals weaved through the city like blood vessels, connecting layers of architecture in a mesmerizing network.

At the center stood a massive fountain, spraying seawater high into the air, creating a mist that shrouded the whole city in a dreamlike veil.

"Wow…"

Nami's sleepiness vanished. Her face nearly pressed against the window as she stared out, mesmerized.

Soon—

Woo—!

With a long whistle, the sea train slowly pulled into the "Blue Station."

"We're here!"

Before the door opened fully, Nami darted out like a cannonball, holding sleepy Nojiko tight.

"Wait up, Nami!" Nojiko grabbed the luggage and ran after her.

Robin and Kuina exchanged helpless glances.

Without Shano around, Nami was completely uncontrollable — like a wild horse breaking loose.

The two walked in the direction the sisters ran off, Kuina speaking as they walked:

"Before coming to Water City, Lord Shano gave us three tasks."

"The first is to exchange all the treasure from the City of Food into cash, then use it to hire shipwrights to inspect the End."

The treasures came from "Blood Saw" Jax.

That night, they returned to find over a dozen chests on deck — probably brought aboard by locals, who hadn't taken a single coin. Kuina could only admire their honesty.

"The chests are still on the ship. They'll arrive in five or six hours."

Robin chuckled. "Since we're here early, we can prepare — like finding the bank and planning our route."

"Leave that to me. Sister Robin, go meet up with Nami and Nojiko."

Kuina nodded. "Take them to the nearest life card maker. We couldn't find one in previous towns, but there's definitely one here."

"That's the second task?" Robin asked. "What about the third?"

"The third…"

Kuina rubbed her chin — a habit she picked up from Shano — and said:

"I'm not sure. Lord Shano only said there were some ambitious folks lurking here. Maybe we can…"

"…expect trouble."

Robin frowned. "Should we buy a few more masks?"

She hated getting caught in unnecessary conflict.

The festival atmosphere here meant there were lots of people in masks already — vendors selling them at the dock.

"No need," Kuina scoffed. "Since Lord Shano said it, they must not be anyone powerful. We wear masks for fun — not to hide. If anyone gets in the way, let my sword speak first!"

Her killing intent surged. Several passersby nearby felt chills and instinctively distanced themselves.

"Being around you does make me feel safe," Robin smiled.

"Too bad we're splitting up."

Kuina stopped and looked across the canal at a shop marked "Blue Rental":

"I'll rent a Blue and find the bank. You meet up with the others. Contact me if anything happens."

"Understood."

Ten minutes later, in a tavern—

"Cheers!"

Nami and Nojiko clinked glasses at the bar.

"Of course it's here."

Robin opened the shutter doors and walked in. "It took me a while to find you. Nojiko, don't let Nami drink. The captain warned us…"

"Ha! I knew you'd say that!" Nami grinned smugly, raising her glass.

"Look! It's a non-alcoholic sparkling cocktail! 'Dream Star,' that's what the menu said. I couldn't resist, right, Uncle Bruno?"

"Yes, it's non-alcoholic. Even kids can drink it."

The large bartender behind the counter smiled warmly. "But… little girl, I'm only 26. Call me big brother, okay?"

"Tch, no way! I already have a brother who controls everything — I'm not calling anyone else that!"

Bruno laughed awkwardly — but when he looked at Robin, his smile froze.

"What's wrong, uncle?" Nami asked.

"You… just look familiar."

"Hmph, don't be rude," Nojiko scolded Nami. "Uncle, another Dream Star please. Sister Robin, want to try?"

Robin nodded with a smile.

Bruno made the drink while glancing at Robin again.

"Sister Robin…"

So it was her after all.

After serving the drinks, Robin sipped it and raised an eyebrow. "This is great. Tastes like real wine."

"Thank you," Bruno said, scratching his head.

After a while, Robin stood. "Alright, time to go find the life card shop."

"Ehhh—" Nami pouted.

"Don't be willful. Finish your tasks first," Nojiko said.

"Fine…" Nami jumped off her stool and waved. "Uncle, I'll come drink your sparkling wine again next time!"

"You're welcome anytime."

Bruno smiled like a puppet, watching them leave — until the door closed.

His smile faded. His gaze turned cold.

He walked to the door, flipped the sign to "Closed," then pulled out a Den Den Mushi from under the counter and dialed.